The National Lacrosse League has announced Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month award winners for February of the 2015 NLL regular season.Toronto Rock forward Rob Hellyer, tied for second in the NLL with 60 points (23+37), third in assists (37) and fourth in goals (23), won NLL Player of the Month.
Hellyer led all NLL players with 29 points (10+19) in February and recorded five or more points in all four games including his 10-point effort (5+5) and game-winning overtime goal in the Rock’s 16-15 win over Edmonton in Week 9. Hellyer won the “Pinty’s Wingman of the Week” award in Week 8 after recording eight points (2+6) against New England.“Robbie had some very big games for us and he was a big part of us going 4-0 in the month of February,” said Rock head coach John Lovell. “He’s a big part of a very unselfish offense. He creates goals for himself and creates goals for others. He sees the floor the better and better each game out.”
The 22-year-old, already in his fifth NLL season, enjoyed a breakout campaign last year where he recorded 79 points (29+50) and was named NLL Player of the Month for April. The Lion’s Head, Ontario native was selected by the Rock in the third round (30th overall) of the 2010 NLL Draft and won a Champion’s Cup with the team as a rookie in 2011.
Toronto remains atop the East Division with the league’s best record at 8-1. Rock players have now earned consecutive Player of the Month awards as Hellyer joins teammate Josh Sanderson who won in January. Toronto visit the Colorado Mammoth live on TSN2 and TSN GO (Canada) & UniversalSports.com (U.S.) tonight at 9 p.m. ET.
Minnesota Swarm forward Miles Thompson, who ranks first among all rookies in assists (18) and second in both points (31) and goals (13), earned the NLL Rookie of the Month award.
Thompson, the third-overall selection from the 2014 NLL Draft, led all first-year pros with 14 points (3+11) in February including a six-point performance (1+5) in Week 9 at Vancouver which matched his career high.
The University at Albany alum was the co-recipient of the 2014 Tewaaraton Award, college lacrosse’s equivalent to the Heisman Trophy, alongside his brother Lyle. The 24-year-old from the Onondaga Nation has become one of the most iconic names in lacrosse and was featured on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays earlier this season.
The NLL Monthly Player Awards are determined by a vote of the league’s general managers and head coaches.
